RICH LESSONS UNIVERSE
Rich Takes.
Every Thursday.
Every Thursday, Sevetri Wilson Taylor and Sheena Allen sit down for about 15 minutes and say exactly what they think about the week's most relevant topics.
• EVERY THURSDAY
• SEVETRI & SHEENA ONLY — NO GUESTS
• ~15 MINUTES
NEVER MISS AN EPISODE!
NOW PLAYING
Listen to the latest Rich Takes mini-episode.
Essence Fest 2026, Gas Prices & The Real Reason Black Women Aren't Getting Funded
This week, the co-hosts break down the Essence Fest 2026 headliner announcement (Brandy, Monica, and Cardi B), what it signals about the festival's comeback, and why Essence still holds cultural power for Black artists. Then the conversation shifts to rising gas prices, the Middle East conflict, and whether Western media is giving Americans the full story.
All Rich Takes — Every Thursday.
March 5, 2026 • 18 min
Sheena Allen and Sevetri Wilson Taylor break down Hanifa's viral supply chain controversy, the Anthropic vs. OpenAI debate, Block's 4,000-person layoff and Jack Dorsey's role in it, whether Big Tech's record profits amid mass layoffs demand a UBI solution, and yes — March Madness picks are in.
PLAY EPISODE
Supreme Court Blocks Trump Tariffs, Netflix vs. Paramount Battle, Sinners Oscar Nominations & More
Feb 26, 2026 • 22 min
Sheena Allen and Sevetri Wilson Taylor break down the Supreme Court's ruling on Trump's tariffs and his 50% global tariff response, the Susan Rice and Netflix controversy amid the Warner Brothers acquisition bid, accountability around the Tourette's racial slur incident at a recent awards show, Oscar nominations for Sinners and The Perfect Neighbor, and the cartel violence affecting travelers in Mexico.
PLAY EPISODE
Is AI Overrated? + Essence Fest's $1.5M Crisis & Why McKenzie Scott's Giving Strategy Is Genius
Feb 19, 2026 • 21 min
Sheena Allen and Sevetri Wilson Taylor debate whether AI is a world-changing revolution or an overhyped bubble — including Matt Shumer's viral "Something Big Is Happening" article, deepfakes, and the urgent need for regulation — then unpack the Essence Festival's $1.5 million debt crisis and what it would take to save it, and defend McKenzie Scott's unrestricted giving against the double standard targeting her HBCU grants.
PLAY EPISODE
Super Bowl Recap, Inside Khaby Lame's $900M Deal, & Mr. Beast Acquires a New Company
Feb 12, 2026 • 14 min
Sheena Allen and Sevetri Wilson Taylor are back with a Hot Takes edition covering their Super Bowl recap, Khaby Lame's reported $900 million deal, MrBeast's latest acquisition, and what the tech world is obsessing over in AI right now.
PLAY EPISODE
Feb 5, 2026 • 16 min
2026 Business Forecast: AI Layoffs, VC Changes & Must-Attend Conferences for Founders
Sheena Allen and Sevetri Wilson Taylor kick off 2026 breaking down the new VC funding reality prioritizing profitability over growth, AI-driven layoffs hitting companies from Saks to the Washington Post to Universal, how to maximize ROI at SXSW, AfroTech, and Tech Week, and why Y Combinator is betting on AI for government.
PLAY EPISODE
Reach founders
every Thursday.
SPONSORS RICH TAKES
Rich Takes drops every week, which means your brand shows up in the ears of entrepreneurs on a consistent, predictable cadence. Sponsoring a Rich Takes episode is one of the most efficient ways to reach the Rich Lessons audience.
The exclusives. The lessons.
In your inbox.
GET EXCLUSIVES
Have some rich lessons to share? We want to hear them.
RICH LESSONS
YOUR VOICE MATTERS
Who should we talk to?
What should we cover?
SUGGEST A GUEST
Know someone with a rich lessons that need to be shared?
Our best episodes with guests come from those who've experienced the ups and downs of the business journey. If you know an entrepreneur, operator, or expert who belongs on Rich Lessons, tell us.
REQUEST A TOPIC
What conversations and
lessons do you need?
Someone out there has already learned it the hard way — raised the money, lost the deal, rebuilt the business, figured out the wealth. Tell us the specific lesson or answer you're looking for. "How do I raise money for my business?" "How do I build wealth as an entrepreneur?" "What does a founder do when it all falls apart?"
This is how you ask for it. We're listening.